Campaigners are hoping to raise £50,000 to bring back Hunstanton’s ‘extreme sports and culture’ Lifestyles Festival, which was cancelled last year due to a lack of funding.

Supporters of the festival came together at the Shed Skatepark in King’s Lynn on Wednesday to mark the official launch of the 2014 festival appeal. The not-for-profit community group behind the festival, Lifestyles Association, hope to either bring back the annual event to Hunstanton for 2014 or retire it from the Norfolk events calendar forever. They also need to recruit 40 new volunteers, by April.

The message from organisers is clear – help now, or lose the festival forever. Losing such a popular event in Norfolk’s calendar would be a real blow to the community.

Professional BMX Flatland rider and Guinness World Record holder Matti Hemmings was the special guest at the launch, and joined those backing the campaign. During an interview with BBC Radio Norfolk – who were in attendance to find out more – Matti explained how he first got into BMX at an event like Lifestyles, and said ”Lifestyles is clearly beneficial to the local community, showcasing extreme sports as a good way of life and inspire young people to take part”.

The first new sponsor, Norfolk based technology firm ‘New IT’ came to the event and pledged their support, following which, Lifestyles Association hope that other companies will follow suit.

Muddy Ruddy

Local artist Ruddy Muddy – another new supporter of the event – who is famed for his art on muddy vans showcased the kind of art workshop planned for the festival, with his charcoal sketch of Matt Hemmings, which was donated to the event and will be auctioned off to the highest bidder at the supporters evening.

The next supporters evening is being held on the 6th March in King’s Lynn’s new Rathskeller wine bar, and anyone interested in volunteering, supporting or sponsoring, is invited to come along.

Donations and Sponsors are welcome, either via online donations through the Association website, or through contact with the sponsorship team info@lifestylesfestival.co.uk.

The Lifestyles Festival offers free access to sports and culture for young people, in addition to which, the organisers use the event to provide work experience for young people, offering a unique opportunity to train in exciting and different event, entertainment and sports based skills. Up to 12,000 visitors came to the event in 2012.